NEWARK, N.J. – A dangerous network peddling fentanyl, cocaine, and illegal firearms – including untraceable “ghost guns” – has been crippled by federal agents in New Jersey, authorities announced Thursday. Nine men, allegedly linked to the Almighty Latin Kings & Queens Nation, face federal charges following a months-long investigation.
The operation, spearheaded by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), focused on a ring operating primarily in Elizabeth and Carteret, New Jersey. The crew wasn’t just moving poison; they were actively manufacturing and distributing the means to escalate violence, according to court documents. U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger warned that the defendants were bringing illegal weapons into the state *and* creating untraceable gun parts capable of converting firearms for automatic firing.
Facing charges of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute narcotics, possession with intent to distribute narcotics, conspiracy to traffic firearms, and unlawful possession of firearms are: Justin Aponte, 28, of Elizabeth, New Jersey; Victor Barrios, 28, of Bayonne, New Jersey; Jose Fontanez, 28, of Carteret, New Jersey; Jonathan Lakomy, 32, of Ringwood, New Jersey; Christian Rodriguez, 32, of Chesterfield, Virginia; Jeziel Romero, 27, of Old Bridge, New Jersey; Christopher Soto, 30, of Matawan, New Jersey; Angel Valentin, 34, of Carteret, and Ian Wooten, 30, of Carteret. All New Jersey defendants appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Cathy L. Waldor in Newark federal court, while Rodriguez appeared in Richmond, Virginia. Soto remains a fugitive.
The investigation, which began in May 2022, revealed a sophisticated operation rooted in the Latin Kings gang. “The charges we’re announcing today describe an illegal network that was actively distributing guns and drugs, including fentanyl and cocaine, around New Jersey,” Sellinger stated. “This network was pushing deadly fentanyl and cocaine, and there is no doubt the weapons being produced and seized would have led to violence and misery,” added Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA’s New Jersey Division, Daniel J. Kafafian. The feds say the network wasn’t just a local problem; firearms were being sourced from out of state, adding another layer of complexity.
ATF Acting Special Agent in Charge Bryan Miller made it clear: “ATF has a zero-tolerance policy for those engaged in firearms-related violence, violent drug gangs, and those who facilitate the illegal manufacturing and trafficking of firearms.” The agency is committed, Miller said, to protecting communities from those who threaten public safety. The bust represents a significant victory for the combined forces of federal, state, and local law enforcement.
The seizure of drugs and firearms has undoubtedly made the community safer, officials claim. But in the world of gang warfare and drug trafficking, one bust rarely dismantles an entire organization. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case, digging deeper into the network and exposing the individuals profiting from misery and violence in New Jersey and beyond.
Related Federal Cases
- Taurean Gordon, Drug & Gun Trafficking, New Jersey 2024 · Pennsylvania
- Trenton Kingpin ‘Vill’ Admits to Massive Drug & Gun Trafficking · Virginia
- Thomas Nicholas Salzano, Federal Drug Trafficking, New Jersey 2024 · Virginia
- Jaquan Beard, Drug Trafficking, New Jersey 2024 · West Virginia
- Naiem Moore, Gun & Drug Charges, New Jersey 2024 · Pennsylvania
Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Organized Crime|Weapons|Drug Trafficking
- Source: Official Press Release
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